It's amazing ... I think it's the closest thing we have to a super power. ~ Drew Houston, founder of Dropbox
Everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer ... because it teaches you how to think. ~ Steve Jobs
The programmers of tomorrow are the wizards of the future. ~ Gabe Newell, founder of Valve
Welcome to the school of wizardry and magic at St. Martin's. No, it's not the same type of magic that you might find at Hogwart's but it's magic just the same - magic that gives you a unique super power. A power that helps you to think through problems and solve them in a logical way. A power that lets YOU create and control what is going to happen.
What are you going to do? You are going to choose how you wish to learn about this super power and then create something using it. You are free to try out your new powers in whatever way works for you and to make mistakes along the way. In fact, you are expected to make mistakes along the way - if you don't, you might not be doing it right! You will need to keep track of your successes AND your missteps, your goof ups, your frustrations, your crash and burn failures and how you overcame them, and what you learned from them.
I'm expected to make mistakes or I'm not doing it right? Really? Seriously, why would I want to make mistakes?
Michael Jordan is only one example. Check out more at They Did Not Give Up. This is why you want to make mistakes!
As you go through this process, you will be documenting your progress and learning on a page on your Google Site. This is where you will reflect on your failures and your successes and, most importantly, what you have learned along the way. Your reflections and learning along with a presentation about your journey is what will be graded!
On the first day of your Super Power Adventure, you will create your page on your Google Site talking about which option you picked including a text link to the web applications you will be using, why you picked what you did, what you think may be difficult about your option and what you hope to learn from it.
Daily (or as directed), after day one, you will start the day by reflecting on the previous day(s) - so on Tuesday you'll write about the previous Friday and on Friday you'll write about the Tuesday before. To do this, you will add to the page on your Google Site with reflections on what happened as you learned about or worked with your chosen option. What did you do? What did you learn? What failed and what did you do about it? What succeeded?
At the end of the journey (even if you haven't finished creating what you set out to make), you will:
Present your final product (or if you don't have a final product, something about your journey) to the class AND
Write a wrap-up reflection on your Google Site page that reflects on the entire process. What did you like about learning this way? What didn't you like? What do you think about your new super power now that you've tried to use it? Share your final product.
Your Super Power Adventure starts now! Pick one of the options below, write your first day post on your Google Site and get started.
Pick the option you like best or suggest your own
Some things you might need to know
Option 1: Learn HTML & CSS ... and maybe a little Javascript, too!
Learn how to design and create your very own website ... from scratch! How far can you get?
Choose how you want to learn HTML & CSS (& maybe Javascript):
What are you trying to create? Your goal is to pick a topic for your website. It could be something academic or something else that your are passionate about. You will then learn HTML and CSS (and maybe some interactive elements with Javascript) using the site you selected above. As you learn, you will then create a website about your selected topic. You will write your actual HTML and CSS code using Notepad and save your HTML, CSS and image files in a subfolder under your folder. Check this video tutorial for some hints & tips on where to find Notepad and how to save your files.
Images: Any images you use on your website must be ones that you have created or taken yourself or must be Public Domain or Creative Commons images and you must give proper credit for them. Do not just do a Google Search for images! The easiest images to get proper credits for are images on Flickr, Find a Creative Commons licensed image, copy the URL for the image page, and go to ImageCodr and paste in the URL you copied from Flickr. Pick the size you want for your site and copy the code generated to get the image with attribution for your site. Videos: Is there a video on YouTube that is just perfect for your website? Is it appropriate for school - this means even for the younger grades? Add the embed code from the video to your HTML code. Can you figure out what the code means?
What can you share on your Google Site page for this option as you learn?
Share any badges or medals that you earn as you learn.
Share your final website! Watch this video tutorial for instructions on how to upload your site to your Google Drive. NOTE: One thing missing from the tutorial is to make sure that you do NOT convert your html/css files to Google Docs format.
As you learn and try to create your website remember the Japanese proverb "Fall down seven times, get up eight." Make sure you get up one more time than you fall down!
Should I create an account?
Code Academy
Yes create an account using your St. Martin's email, id & password.
Code Avengers
There is already an account set up for you on this site. Use your standard St. Martin's ID and password.
w3Schools
There are no accounts on this site so you will need to keep track of what you have done as you go. You might want to set up a document or spreadsheet for this.
Flickr Advanced Search - Make sure you scroll down and turn on the Only search within Creative Commons-licensed content option. How to credit Flickr photos - read this!
Pics 4 Learning - Each image has citation information on it.
Option 2: Create a game in Scratch Check out some featured Scratch Projects , learn Scratch using some of the tutorials, check out the What makes a good game resources, and then try to create your own Scratch project! Scratch is installed on your computer and available on your desktop.
What are you trying to create? Your goal is to create a game in Scratch. Think about the type of games that you like best. Why do you like them? Can you make something similar? Can you keep score? Can you limit the time available? Can you tell the player if they won or lost? Remember that it should be possible to win a game but it shouldn't be too easy to do so. Do not just copy something from one of the tutorial websites or remix someone else's game - create your own! If you are sitting next to someone else learning Scratch, do not create the same type of game as they are creating. NOTE: Ask Mrs. Sedgwick to log you in to the StM Computer Lab Gallery on the Scratch website to share your finished game online!
What can you share on your Google Site page for this option as you learn?
Take screen shots of the code you are writing or the sprites you are creating to give some "teasers" for the game you are creating!
Once your game (or simulation) is finished, upload it to the StM Computer Lab Gallery and share a link to it on your Google Site page. Watch this video tutorial for instructions on uploading to the Scratch site and linking in your Google Site.
These words from Rev. Robert Schuller are good to keep in mind: "Failure doesn't mean you are a failure... it just means you haven't succeeded yet." How many failures will you have before you achieve success!
Option 3: Suggest Something Do you have an idea about some other way you would like to learn to code? Talk to me about it and as long as it is challenging and something NEW to you and something where there's a good possibility that you will make mistakes along the way, it will probably be approved.
Super Power Here I Come!
~ Drew Houston, founder of Dropbox
~ Steve Jobs
~ Gabe Newell, founder of Valve
What are you going to do? You are going to choose how you wish to learn about this super power and then create something using it. You are free to try out your new powers in whatever way works for you and to make mistakes along the way. In fact, you are expected to make mistakes along the way - if you don't, you might not be doing it right! You will need to keep track of your successes AND your missteps, your goof ups, your frustrations, your crash and burn failures and how you overcame them, and what you learned from them.
I'm expected to make mistakes or I'm not doing it right? Really? Seriously, why would I want to make mistakes?
Michael Jordan is only one example. Check out more at They Did Not Give Up. This is why you want to make mistakes!
As you go through this process, you will be documenting your progress and learning on a page on your Google Site. This is where you will reflect on your failures and your successes and, most importantly, what you have learned along the way. Your reflections and learning along with a presentation about your journey is what will be graded!
Your Super Power Adventure starts now! Pick one of the options below, write your first day post on your Google Site and get started.
Option 1: Learn HTML & CSS ... and maybe a little Javascript, too!
Learn how to design and create your very own website ... from scratch! How far can you get?Choose how you want to learn HTML & CSS (& maybe Javascript):
What are you trying to create?
Your goal is to pick a topic for your website. It could be something academic or something else that your are passionate about. You will then learn HTML and CSS (and maybe some interactive elements with Javascript) using the site you selected above. As you learn, you will then create a website about your selected topic. You will write your actual HTML and CSS code using Notepad and save your HTML, CSS and image files in a subfolder under your folder. Check this video tutorial for some hints & tips on where to find Notepad and how to save your files.
Images: Any images you use on your website must be ones that you have created or taken yourself or must be Public Domain or Creative Commons images and you must give proper credit for them. Do not just do a Google Search for images! The easiest images to get proper credits for are images on Flickr, Find a Creative Commons licensed image, copy the URL for the image page, and go to ImageCodr and paste in the URL you copied from Flickr. Pick the size you want for your site and copy the code generated to get the image with attribution for your site.
Videos: Is there a video on YouTube that is just perfect for your website? Is it appropriate for school - this means even for the younger grades? Add the embed code from the video to your HTML code. Can you figure out what the code means?
What can you share on your Google Site page for this option as you learn?
As you learn and try to create your website remember the Japanese proverb "Fall down seven times, get up eight." Make sure you get up one more time than you fall down!
Yes create an account using your St. Martin's email, id & password.
There is already an account set up for you on this site. Use your standard St. Martin's ID and password.
There are no accounts on this site so you will need to keep track of what you have done as you go. You might want to set up a document or spreadsheet for this.
HTML Reference Materials:
CSS Reference Materials:
Javascript Reference Materials:
Public Domain & Creative Commons Images:
Check out some featured Scratch Projects , learn Scratch using some of the tutorials, check out the What makes a good game resources, and then try to create your own Scratch project! Scratch is installed on your computer and available on your desktop.
What are you trying to create?
Your goal is to create a game in Scratch. Think about the type of games that you like best. Why do you like them? Can you make something similar? Can you keep score? Can you limit the time available? Can you tell the player if they won or lost? Remember that it should be possible to win a game but it shouldn't be too easy to do so. Do not just copy something from one of the tutorial websites or remix someone else's game - create your own! If you are sitting next to someone else learning Scratch, do not create the same type of game as they are creating.
NOTE: Ask Mrs. Sedgwick to log you in to the StM Computer Lab Gallery on the Scratch website to share your finished game online!
What can you share on your Google Site page for this option as you learn?
These words from Rev. Robert Schuller are good to keep in mind: "Failure doesn't mean you are a failure... it just means you haven't succeeded yet." How many failures will you have before you achieve success!
(no sound on these)
What makes a good game?
Other Links of Interest:
You can download Scratch at home, too!
Do you have an idea about some other way you would like to learn to code? Talk to me about it and as long as it is challenging and something NEW to you and something where there's a good possibility that you will make mistakes along the way, it will probably be approved.